Eric Boggs
Ohio, renowned as a football state, also has a passionate love affair with baseball. The cities of Cincinnati and Cleveland host professional baseball franchises, and the state boasts 16 major leaguers. Despite this, Ohio State’s baseball program has often been likened to a sleeping giant.
The Ohio State Buckeyes have significant resources and a strong baseball fanbase. Yet, the team has not reached the College World Series since 1967 and has achieved 40 wins in a season only once in the past 14 years.
New head coach Justin Haire aims to revive the Buckeyes’ baseball program. He discussed his plans during his introductory press conference with the media last week.
“What can you expect from me and from our staff? Enthusiasm for the process of building this program into the monster we know it can be. There will be no room to transfer the blame, to make excuses.”
Ohio State Head Baseball Coach Justin Haire
Haire succeeds Bill Mosiello, who returned to TCU after a brief tenure with the Buckeyes. Haire is determined to establish a tradition that will make Ohio State fans and alumni proud. His tenure at Campbell included five Big South conference championships and seven NCAA tournament victories, a stark contrast to Ohio State’s performance over the past 14 years.
Athletic Director Ross Bjork emphasized the importance of Haire’s Ohio roots and his people-first mindset when he answered questions from the media during Haire’s introductory press conference.
“When we set the profile for this position, we wanted someone who could connect with the community and understand Ohio’s unique challenges. Within a matter of probably a few minutes, ‘OK, this can work.’ We see it. We see the charisma. We see the connection.”
Ohio State Athletic Director Ross Bjork
The Buckeyes face unique challenges, particularly in recruiting and training. Midwest teams contend with less favorable weather compared to their southern counterparts, impacting their ability to produce top prospects. However, both Bjork and Haire are committed to overcoming these obstacles.
Haire emphasized the importance of recruiting in-state talent and building a strong program culture.
“We certainly want to do a good job in-state and make sure that the guys that maybe have gone elsewhere and are wanting to come back home, that we do a good job of finding the right ones and the right fits and try to build our program from that. We need to be the best version of who we are. By forging that identity, we can begin to grow the program into the monster we believe it can be.”
Ohio State Head Baseball Coach Justin Haire
Despite the challenges, Haire believes in the potential of Ohio State’s baseball program. He aims to create a unique identity, focusing on developing relationships and a familial atmosphere. Most SEC baseball programs are financially self-sustaining, while Ohio State’s is not. The colder spring temperatures contribute significantly to this disparity. If there were a way to put a roof over Bill Davis Stadium and create a temperature-controlled environment, Ohio State would immediately have an advantage over its Midwest competition and could begin to compete with SEC schools. This, in turn, could make Ohio State baseball one of the few sports at the university that could become financially self-sustaining.
